The Right UTV

[El Wood]

I'm in the market for a new UTV and thought I would gather some opinions.

I'll be moving out to 20 acres in a few months. I need a machine for several different tasks... Some of these tasks include basic transportation around the property, hauling tools around, hauling some firewood, towing a small trailer around and travel to the neighbor's houses in the near area.

Right now I own a Can Am ATV. I've considered selling it because I don't use it very much. Occasionally, I'll haul it to a trail head with some friends and we'll ride. I do love riding it but it would be nice to have some trade in cash.

I've been looking hard at the John Deere 825i. I don't plan on trail riding with it and it doesn't need to be very fast. 30 mph would be fine. The JD 825i is around $12500. I don't really want to spend much more then that. I should also mention that I saw a Massimo ATV at Tractor Supply today. It looked pretty nice and was priced at only $8000. I don't know much about that brand though.

Some others I've considered are Polaris Ranger and Kawasaki Mule.

What kind of UTV do you guys have? Advice?

 

[nybirdman]

Massimo=Chinese built I believe.My brother-in-law has the 825 JD,it s alright I guess,hard on gas and has a small tank.We have a Kawasaki Teryx and a Yamaha Rhino(450).Unfortunately they don't build the 450 any-more.Mine has 3500 trouble free miles,all I have done is replace the tires.

 

[El Wood]

Massimo=Chinese built I believe.My brother-in-law has the 825 JD,it s alright I guess,hard on gas and has a small tank.We have a Kawasaki Teryx and a Yamaha Rhino(450).Unfortunately they don't build the 450 any-more.Mine has 3500 trouble free miles,all I have done is replace the tires.

I've heard good things about the Rhino's. Would you buy another one today?

 

[EddieWalker]

My requirements where very similar when I was looking and it came down to Kawasaki and Kubota for me. After some going back and forth, I liked the Kawasaki better. It's been a couple of years now and I like it more now then when I bought it!!!!

Eddie

 

[PapaPerk]

First off I would avoid the Tractor Supply unit. $8,000 is too much. Plus it's made in China. Booo


Check out the Polaris Ranger Midsize 400. It's priced around $8,000. I got mine for about 1,000 less last year. Great unit!!! Plenty of power and has a turf mode that unlocks the rear diff so the tires don't rip you yard up. Also makes driving on pavement much better.

Also the Ranger mid size comes in 570 and 800 cc if you need more power. But my 400 will do over 45 mph.... That's plenty fast for me.

Also check out the Kubota 500 RTV. They are nicely built. Their suspension is stiff compared to the Polaris. But are very high quality and run like a sewing machine.

Another option is the new Honda Pioneer that's coming out. Looks like a nice ride.

I love my Ranger and would certainly buy again!

 

[C4Ranch]

X2 for the Ranger.

Just posted this earlier today:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ation-side-sides-differences.html#post3458902

 

[efam3300]

I have a 2011 Ranger 500 with a full cab. It is fuel injected and starts in all weather. It is a very smooth ride and with the cab and doors its an all weather utv. I bought it with a snow plow and power angle, this machine will push a lot of snow in cozy comfort. The only Con I have is leg room for a tall person.

 

[RoyJackson]

I looked at a used Polaris Ranger at a local dealer (I was there buying a used Bush Bull cutter). Nice machine, but they wanted too much money for it. I made an offer, but their counter offer was too high.
The only thing I've heard bad about Polaris is the price of parts. If you check out any ATV/UTV forums (and I suggest you do...as well as the ATV/UTV forum on TBN), you find out any potential or real problems.

Since I am a Deere guy, I looked on Used Farm & Agricultural Equipment - John Deere MachineFinder for Gators around this area. I did miss a cabbed 6x4 locally...that was a shame too. Nice UTV for a good price.

As far as the 825i, good reviews and as others wrote, pretty thirsty (carry an extra 5 gallons with you when you're out and about). My neighbor has a fully optioned out 825i...factory cab, heater, field lamps, tail lights, etc.). He's quite happy with it and it is fast! His came to around $18K-$19K.

I ended up going with an 855D Gator...mostly because I wanted a diesel. So far, a good and very handy machine and I do recommend it. Mine is a single bench seat and you can get two adults and a child on the seat. There's also an optional bench seat for the bed...or, if you have a family, there are 4 seaters available, but I think you'd be pushing the 855D's 25 HP engine if fully loaded...my opinion with nothing to back that up, BTW.
Unlike the 825i, the 855D is very frugal with fuel. It's pretty quick for me. Definitely something to look at.
With the roof, mine came to about $15K. More then I wanted to pay for a UTV, but it'll be the last one Ill own (unless I live a lot longer then I expect)

Depending on your intended use, you might want the power dump. That's one thing I wish I'd gotten...that and the windshield. Mine did come with the roof (as shown in the pictures). Most options are dealer installed, or if you're handy, you can install them yourself.

 

[aczlan]

We have the RTV500 and love it. Its slow compared to the other machines, but its workhorse and we like the lower ride height (especially my inlaws who have had hip/knee/spine operations).
We looked at the Gator 625i, bit it sits as high as a fullsize 4x4 pickup. I recently rode in a Gator HPX (dealer loaner for a friend who's 855D is in the shop waiting for a redesigned wiring harness) and it looks interesting, faster than a RTV 500, but similar ride height.

Aaron Z

 

[westcliffe01]

I bought the Kubota RTV 500. I was really trying to keep the budget down on mine and I got mine with 90+ hours for $6500.

It does have its faults. Given how long Kubota has been building the 900's and bigger UTV's, many aspects of the 500 were very poorly thought out. For instance take a look at the mess under the huge hood. There is no storage space there whatsoever, nor is anything sealed up at all. The hood also interferes with fitting a "real" windshield. The engine is positioned in a terrible place behind the seat and under the bed. One has to constantly keep it clean from combustible matter.

Having said all of that, I chose the 500 because of my anticipation of needing it for steep terrain in the rockies and I recently got to spend 2 weeks out there where I was searching for a building site and it was perfect for the job. It is the only smaller UTV with a hydrostatic transmission and that is really a plus in the steep terrain. In low range 4x4 it kept going even at 10000 ft and some pretty crazy hills. Downhill one has great engine braking, one hardly ever needs the brakes. The governor / hydro linkage is not properly adjusted on most units from the factory and is one of the reasons for poor performance. I was not looking for something fast, but wanted slow and steady.

I have the plastic roof on mine and will probably go with the glass windshield (it has a vinyl lower section so the hood can be opened to check the brake fluid). One can no longer get doors for it, but I will likely make my own to keep snow out of it when hunting in winter. One can get vinyl "windshields" that attach with velcro to close off the rear opening and keep the wind off you.

Being gas and fuel injected, it starts like a dream in the cold and at any altitude. It also uses very little fuel. I seldom used more than 1.5 gal/day and was typically out on the ranch for several hours at a time, most of that in low range.

For flat land and very little hard work, I'm sure the belt driven ones will be fine, but I have confirmed that I made the right decision for the kind of land I am planning to use mine in. I would not want a belt driven machine there at all.

 

[aczlan]

If anyone wants pre-made swinging doors for the RTV500, talk to the folks at Original Tractor Cab. They sell a set for it and they seem to do decent work for a good price.

Aaron Z

 

[Ken45101]

We have had the Kubota RTV900 for 5-6 years now and are very satisfied. Good payload in the bed, good traction. It gets used daily. The only thing I've replaced on it were the rear tires (worn out, replaced with the same brand/model).

I like the diesel since it avoids the problems with the gas going bad.

 

[RoyJackson]

I like the diesel since it avoids the problems with the gas going bad.

I like it because I only have to buy one fuel type (since I have a Deere tractor too) and diesel is a lot safer to keep around (less explosive potential).
Long term storage...well, you want it winterized and use a biocide of some sort.
I normally keep about 10 gallons around.

 

[PapaPerk]

Keep in mind what you really need your vehicle for. As others have said... in hilly country the hydros are best. But if you are on flatter land and want better performance.... I'd go with something like the Ranger. You really have to fit the machine to your needs.

For my use... rolling country, grassy yard, work and recreation... the Ranger was the perfect fit for me. I like being able to work and putt around.... then put it in High and do 45 mph down the road. Having a higher top speed really opens up more uses for the machine. We went to Eastern KY one weekend... had to haul flowers up to a cemetery on top of a mountain. I was able to drive up the black top highway to the logging road that went to the cemetery. Shifted into low and 4wd... then blasted up the road... it was very narrow and rocky. Worked great! And a lot of fun too.

So it's all on how you are going to use the machine. The RTV 900 is very impressive. You can pull farm wagons, etc with that unit. Very powerful.

 

[Ken45101]

I wish I could get by with 10 gallons! I get 200 at a time ($$$).

But I agree about the reduced hazard with diesel vs. gas.

I only put winterizing additive into the RTV since it's the only thing that will get used in really cold weather. I haven't needed a biocide. I have a filter on the pump the the cartridge is still good.

 

[nybirdman]

I've heard good things about the Rhino's. Would you buy another one today?

No doubt I would buy another Rhino,the new ones are 700cc and fuel injected;the 2014 seat three across in bucket seats.I run a small uplands preserve...mine is a people hauler,bird hauler,feed hauler and manure spreader..it runs just about every day and has never failed me.We have had good luck with Yamaha and owned several different models.

 

[Ken45101]

Keep in mind what you really need your vehicle for. As others have said... in hilly country the hydros are best. But if you are on flatter land and want better performance.... I'd go with something like the Ranger. You really have to fit the machine to your needs.

For my use... rolling country, grassy yard, work and recreation... the Ranger was the perfect fit for me. I like being able to work and putt around.... then put it in High and do 45 mph down the road. Having a higher top speed really opens up more uses for the machine. We went to Eastern KY one weekend... had to haul flowers up to a cemetery on top of a mountain. I was able to drive up the black top highway to the logging road that went to the cemetery. Shifted into low and 4wd... then blasted up the road... it was very narrow and rocky. Worked great! And a lot of fun too.

So it's all on how you are going to use the machine. The RTV 900 is very impressive. You can pull farm wagons, etc with that unit. Very powerful.

Good points about matching the machine to your needs.

IDK about "pulling farm wagons, etc." Our RTV900 has a disappointingly low tow rating (1300# but only 110# tongue weight!). They may have increased the rating since we bought ours. Our RTV is rated to carry more weight in the bed than the tow rating.

 

[RoyJackson]

Good points about matching the machine to your needs.

IDK about "pulling farm wagons, etc." Our RTV900 has a disappointingly low tow rating (1300# but only 110# tongue weight!). They may have increased the rating since we bought ours. Our RTV is rated to carry more weight in the bed than the tow rating.

Not a lot of HP either...the description I've read stated 21.6 HP.
I'm not so sure the HST would be any better then a belt either.

Now, I'm not putting the Kubota down. It's one I considered (even though I'm a Deere guy), but there weren't any available to try out and the closest used ones I could find (on MachineFinder and TractorHouse) were 200+ miles away.

 

[aczlan]

Good points about matching the machine to your needs.
IDK about "pulling farm wagons, etc." Our RTV900 has a disappointingly low tow rating (1300# but only 110# tongue weight!). They may have increased the rating since we bought ours. Our RTV is rated to carry more weight in the bed than the tow rating.

Our RTV500 pulls a full haywagon back to the barn, that's ~120 45# haybales (5400#) plus the wagon (1200#?). Has to be in low range but it doesn't seem to mind it.

Aaron Z

 

[buickanddeere]

How about a golf cart with atv tires on it? They are a cheap ride. Aftermarket position-traction units are modest in price and work well enough.
Another angle to consider would be a 1023E Deere with aloader, or a cargo box on the three point or towing a trailer.